MelRose Michaels recently shared a witty retort she delivered to a critic who tried to shame her in public for working in the adult entertainment industry. Inspired by this encounter, Michaels is now on a mission to empower and support other women in the sex industry through her new clothing line and charitable contributions.

A Night to Remember: On a night out with friends, Michaels was approached by a stranger attempting to shame her for her profession. However, she swiftly silenced her critic with a clever comeback, leaving the offender taken aback. The 30-year-old, based in Nashville, Tennessee, explained to SEEN TV, “Someone identified me as a sex worker and tried to shame me by saying, ‘It must be embarrassing knowing everyone here has seen you naked.’ My immediate reply was, ‘It’s not my fault that your boyfriend buys my nudes.’”

Light Bulb Moment: This pivotal moment led Michaels to conceive a unique idea that would allow her and others to reclaim their identity and power. She envisioned creating attire that would carry empowering slogans, effectively circumventing the need for such confrontational interactions in public.

Empowering Attire for a Cause: The result is a brand new clothing line featuring T-shirts, hoodies, and crop tops adorned with catchy slogans like “There’s a reason I look familiar, your boyfriend buys my nudes” and “Stigma looks good on you.” Beyond making a style statement, these pieces serve a higher purpose as well: a portion of the proceeds is donated to Pineapple Support, a charity offering free or low-cost therapy to individuals in the adult industry.

Busting Myths: Apart from launching this empowering collection, Michaels is dedicated to debunking common misconceptions surrounding sex work and those involved in the industry. Despite prevailing stereotypes painting erotic stars as “immoral and ungodly,” Michaels asserts that, like anyone else, her colleagues are regular people—neighbors, friends, sisters, cousins—who contribute to society and deserve respect.

Clothing With a Message: Michaels envisions her clothing line as a tool for empowerment and advocacy. She hopes that wearing these items will not only instill a sense of pride and empowerment in customers (primarily sex workers) but also spark important conversations, raise awareness, and challenge stigmas associated with the sex industry.

Michaels’ clothing line is more than just about fashion—it’s a statement and a movement aimed at reversing negative perceptions, promoting empowerment, and providing support to those in the adult industry. Through her clever designs and strong messages, she invites everyone to join the conversation, shed prejudices, and celebrate empowerment for all.

• You can follow Melrose Michaels on Twitter (X) at @MelRoseMichaels.